Envelope machine



A. NOVICK y; ENvELoE MACHINE Dec. 19, 1944.

"7 She'ejos-Sheet 1 J 1 k m R 0 a 2 I v M d e. l 1 F INVENTOR Abraham N0v/c/r ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1944. gv c ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed April 20,1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Abra/1m A/a wc/r BY ATTORNEYS 7Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Abra/7am Nor/Ck ATTO RN EYS Dec. 19, 1944. A.NOVICK ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed April 2.0, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYSDec. 19, 1944. A. NOVlCK ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed April 20, 1940 7Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Abra/7am Nov/ck Qnw.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1944. a A Nov. 2,365,211

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed April 20, -l94Q '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 an Z6 ATTORNEYSPatented Dec-19,1944

2,365,211 a ENVELOPE MACHINE Abraham hlovick, Flushing, N. Y., assignorto F. L. Smithe Machine (30., Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York I Application April 20, 1940, Serial No. 330,646

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for feeding, gummingand folding sheet material, more specifically to envelope makingmachinery, and in its most specific aspect to envelope making machineryof the plunger type. Although certain features of the invention haveutility apart from the making of envelopes, the invention'isillustratively disclosed herein as embodied in an envelope makingmachine of the plunger type. The illustrated machine'is an improvementupon the machine disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,111,317to D. G. Dreher.

It is an important object of the invention to provide an envelopemachine of the plunger type having, in combination, means for separatingenvelope blanks singly from a' stack of blanks,

and means for accurately aligning and timing.

the separated blanks and delivering them to a frictional conveyor,together with a frictional conveyor for advancing the blanks intoposition to be folded by the plunger folding mechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to provide, in an envelopemachine, the combination of a rotary gummer and a. plunger foldingmechanism with a frictional conveyor for carrying the envelope blankspast the rotary gummer and into folding position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide, in an envelopemachine, the combination with means for separating blanks singly from astack of blanks and for feeding them downward, of means defining anarcuate path for the blanks, rotary blank pushing elements fortransmitting the blanks through said arcuate path, and, frictionalconveyor means running tangent to the arcuate path of receiving eachblank as it is delivered by the pushing elements.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide means forcausing the pushing elements to be shifted in anti-blank-feedingdirection rela' tive to the rotary support of the pushing elements, andto be maintained in such shifted conother segment. The present machineembodies this principle of operation. It is a further object of thepresent invention to provide improved means for controlling theoscillations of the gum -transfer rollers.

the time when they have passed to and through the forming box of theplunger mechanism, the purpose being to enable a jamto be quickly andconveniently cleared up. This object is attained by virtue of acombination of several features. The blanks are first fed downward awayfrom the stack. They are timed and aligned while traveling throughan'arcuate path, and, therefore, are required to travel in a directionaway from the operator only for a distance sufilcient to carry them pastthe rotary gummer into folding position. In the gummer, as has beenpointed out, the two gum segments have a common axis of rotation whichenables the frictional conveyor to be made very short. The frictionalconveyor consists of rotary members which act continuously andunidirectionally upon the side flaps of the blanks. The space betweenand below the rotary conveyor members is substantially fr fromobstruction.

In accordance with a practical and advantageous embodiment of theinvention, it is an important feature that provision is made, incombination with a plunger folding mechanism, of a frictional conveyorfor carrying envelope blanks into folding position, together withcooperative Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in sectional, side elevation ofa portion of an-envelope making machinepf the plunger type whichembodies features of the invention;

Fig; 2 is a plan view'of a 'gummed envelope blank upon which the machineis adapted to operate, the view showing particularly the disposition ofthe seal flap and bottom flap gum;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig.1 looking in the direc tion of the arrows, the view being upon a largerscale than Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail, sectional view taken upon the line 4-4of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, detail, sectional view taken upon the line 5 -5of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6' is a View generally similar to Fig. 5, but showing the parts ata different stage of the operation, a number of the parts being omittedfor clearness of illustration;

Fig. '7 is a further view similar to Figure 5, but showing the parts atstill another stage of the operation, a number of the parts beingomitted for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 8 is substantially a fragmentary, sectional view taken upon theline H of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows, but with theparts at a different stage in the cycle of operations;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but with certain parts shown in Fig.8 omitted and with the mechanism illustrated at a later ,point in the'cycle of operations;

Fig. 10 is also a view similar to Fig. 8 with certain of the partsillustrated in Fig. 8 omitted and with the parts shown at a point incycle of operations subsequent to that of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken upon the line ll-H ofFig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of the folding box and associated parts.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view in sectional side elevation of a modifiedembodiment of the invention, the section being taken upon the linei3--l3 of Figure 14 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism illustrated inFigure 13.

Before a detailed description of the machine is undertaken, theprincipal instrumentalities will first be briefly described in theirrelation to one another so as to afiord a comprehensive view of thegeneral functioning of the machine.

Supports l are provided for a stack 2 of en The supports maintain thestack velope blanks. at a slight inclination to he horizontal, and theblanks are removed singly mm the lower end of the stack by separatormechanism 3 of the kind disclosed in my application for patent filedconcurrently herewith and entitled Sheet feeding mechanism, Serial No.327,967. The blanks are withdrawn from the stack at uniform timeintervals and are transmitted in a generally downward direction by beltconveyor mechanism 4, which runs continuously. The blanks are deliveredby the conveyor mechanism 4 to inert guide means designated generally bythe reference numeral 5, which define an arcuate path for the blanks.

Rotary pusher means 8 are caused to traverse the arcuate path defined bythe guide means 5 and to engage each envelope blank 6 at the Junction ofthe side flaps I with the sealing flap 8 of the blank to push it forwardin accurately timed and aligned relation to frictional conveyormechanism 9, which defines a blank feeding path tangent to the arcuatepath defined by the guide means 5. The conveyor desirably comprises apair of parallel belts it! which act upon the side flaps I of the blanksand outside the bounds of the body portion of the blank. Holddownrollers H opposed to the belts it cause the blanks to be advanced by theconveyor mechanism 9 past The gumming segments 14 and i5 are mountedupon a common shaft l8, and hence the peripheries of the segments travelin a common circular path. One of the segments H is caused to apply thebottom flap gain 11 to a blank, and the other segment i5 is caused toapply the seal flap gum l 8 to a blank. These gums are of differentcharacter, and hence provision is made for causing one kind of gum to bedelivered to the segment l4 and another kind of gum to be delivered tothe segment i5. Briefly, this is accomplished by providing gum supplymeans I 9, including a transfer roller 20, to deliver gum to the segmenti4, and gum supply means 2 I, including a transfer roller 22, fordelivering gum to the segment i5.

Provision is made of mechanism indicated generally at 23, Figures 4 and8, for oscillating the gum transfer rollers 20 and 2| in timed relationwith the rotation of the gum segments I4 and i5,

to cause the transfer roller 2| to engage the segment l5, but to escapeengagement with the segment H, and to cause the transfer roller 20 toengage the segment I, but to escape engagement with the segment 15.

The conveyor mechanism 9 acts continuously and unidirectionally to carrythe blanks frictionally past the gumming mechanism 12 and into positionto be folded by plunger mechanism 24 which comprises a folding plunger25 and a folding box 26. The folding box is disposed between the beltsl0 and beneath the plane of the upper or active stretches of the beltsi0, and the plunger 25 reciprocates into and out of the folding box,delivering the partially folded blanks onto a pivoted suction trap 26afor the completion of the folding operations. The present invention isnot concerned with further details of the folding and drying of theenvelopes, and hence such further folding means may be of any suitableand conventional construction, as disclosed, for example, in LettersPatent of the United States No. 1,631,146.

The blanks are advanced to folding position gagement in the anglesformed at the junction of the bottom flap 28 with the side flaps I. Thepins 2'! serve both to arrest the blanks and to realign them accuratelyfor the folding operation.

In order that this arresting and realigning may occur, provision is madefor causing the final advance of a blank toward and into engagement withthe stop pins Z'Ito be effected with a light yielding force. To this endprovision is made at each side of the machine of a universally revolubleball 29 which bears lightly upon a side flap of the blank in oppositionto one of the belts Ill. The balls function very advantageously in thisconnection, both because they cause a blank to be carried against thestop pins with a light, yielding force. and because they offer nosubstantial opposition to the subsequent drawing of the side flaps,transversely of the direction of blank feeding, toward and into thefolding box.

As will be observed from Fig. 1, each of the stacked envelope blanks issupported on edge and stands in a generally upright attitude, butsomewhat inclined toward the right. The right-hand end of the stack is,therefore, the lower end of the stack. The mechanism 3 comprises asuction picker I30 which is caused to reciprocate between a positionlike that illustrated in Fig. l and a position for deflecting the uppermarginal portion of the lowermost blank into the space between a rollerI3I which is fast on a shaft I32, and a pair of feed segments I33, seeFigure 3 also, which are fast upon a shaft I34. The suction picker I30acts in timed relation to the rotation of the segments I33, so that eachdeflected blank is caused to be seized between the segments I33, on theone hand, and the roller I3I on the other and pulled away from thestack.

The roller I3I is formed with a central groove in which an endless beltI35 travels. An endless belt I36 is opposed to the belt I35 and coactswith the belt I35 to feed the blanks downward away from the roller I3I.Guide members I31 mounted upon a rod I38 serve to guide the leading endof the blank in conformity with the periphery of the roller I3I untilthe blank becomes gripped between the belts I35 and I36.

The belt I 36 runs around an end pulley I39, thence downward intobearing engagement with extend across the arcuate path defined by theguides, and since the arcuate path is of larger the belt I35, upon aportion of the grooved pe riphery of the roller I3I. The belt I36 thentravels downward over a curved guide I 40, around a guide roller HI, andonto a pulley I42, which is fast upon a shaft I43. From the pulley I42the belt I36 travels upward against a curved guide I44 and onto the endpulley I39.

The belt I35 travels downward from I3I in bearing engagement with thebelt I36 as far as the guide roller I4I, but from that point downwardthe belts I35 and I36 diverge, the belt I35 continuing straight orsubstantially straight to an end pulley I45 which is carried bya pair.of guide arms I46 mounted upon a rod 141.

Flat guide members I 48, Figures 1 and 3, extend downward alongside thebelt I36 in parallelism with the belt for a considerable distance, or

until the guide roller MI is reached. Just below,

the guide roller I4I the guides I48 continue straight downward for ashort distance, crossing. the belt I36. The guides- I48 continuearcuately around the axis of the shaft I43 as a center and terminate instraight, substantially horizontal endporticns. The guides I46 havetheir faces, which are toward the shaft I43, formed upon arcs concentricwith the shaft. The guides I48 and I 46 together define an arcuate pathfor the blanks, concentric with the shaft I43. The guides I46 carryspring fingers I49 and I50 for pressing the blanks against ,the guidesI48. Additional guides I5I, similar to the guides I46, are supportedupon the rod I41. The inner faces of the additional guides I5I, that is,the faces toward the shaft I43 are of equal curvature with the innerfaces of the guides I46 and at the same distance from the axis of theshaft I43. Additional guide rods I52 carried by supporting rods I53extend arcuately around the axis of the shaft I43 with their outer facesin substantial circumferential coincidence with the outer faces of thearcuate portions of the guides I48.

It will be seen that the blanks are delivered into the arcuate guideformed by the members I48 and I52, on the one hand, and by the membersI46 and I5I -on the other hand, by the conveyor belts I35 and I36, butthat after the trailing edge of a blank has cleared the guide roller I,the belts have no further tendency to drive the blank.

the roller I55 fast on the shaft I43. The pushing. members radius thanthe pulley I42 upon which the belt I36 travels, the feed of the blanksthrough the arcuate guide is somewhat faster than the feed imparted tothe blanks by the belts I35 and I36.

Each blank desirably comes to rest at least momentarily after clearingthe grip of the belts I35 and I36. The pushing members are arranged toengage in the angles formed at the junctions of the seal flap 8 with theside flaps I of a blank to drive the blank forward. The guides I52extend around the peripheries of the wheels I55so that the blanks aredefinitely held out of engagement with the wheels and must depend fortheir advance upon the action of the pushing members I54. The functionof the pushing members is to deliver the blanks in accurately timed andaligned relation to the frictional conveyor mechanism 9.

The blank feeding path defined by the conveyor mechanism 9 is a straightcontinuation of the arcuate path defined by the guides I48, I52, I46

and I5I, and the point at which the straight and arcuate paths mergemay, therefore, be referred to as a point of tangency of the straightpath with the arcuate path.

control of the blank being delivered; the speed of the conveyormechanism 9-being substantially the same as the traveler the pushingmembers along the arcuate pathi; v,

The pushing members may be permitted to travel in unisonwith theircarrying wheels up to or nearly tothe point of tangency, but must beretarded from that'point onward in order to prevent the pushing membersfrom gaining on a blank and mutilating the rear edge of the blank.

Provision is made for retardation of the pushing members at theappropriate time. Each pushing member I54 is supported upon its carryingwheel I55 by means of a pivot pin I56, and is held normally inengagement with a stop pin I51 aflixed to the wheel I55 by means ofatension spring I58 which'is connected at one end to an ear I59 of thepushing member, and at the other end toa pin I60 affixed to the wheelI55. Each pushing member is in the form of a three-armed lever, one armbeing designed for engaging'the blank, a second being connected to thespring I58 and being engageable with the stop I51, and the third beingprovided with a cam engaging roller IN. A stationary cam I62 is securedto a supporting bar I63 by means of pins I64 in po- .has been taken overby the conveyor mechanism 9. After the point of tangency is reached bythe pushing member, the pushing member traverses a straight or tangentportion of the blank path, I

and hence the portion of the pushing member which extends across theblank path is progressively nearer the outer end of the pushing memberand'of progressively increasing effective radius as the pushing embertravels upward and forward to clear the lank path, The cam is soconstructed and arranged that the rocked or re tracted condition of thepushing member is maintained until thetip of the pushing member hascleared the tangentportion of the blank path. After the blank path iscleared by the pushing member I54, the cam permits the spring I58 toreturn the pushing member into engagement with the stop I51, so that thepushing member is in its proper normal position for acting upon the nextfollowing blank at the appropriate time.

The conveyor mechanism 9 comprises an appropriate table structure I66,Figures 1, 11 and 12, which includes side rails I61 upon which the beltsI are Supp rted in their upper or active stretches. The table I66provides an appropriate gap, as will be well understood, foraccommodating the bed roller I3 of the gumming mechanism. The tablestructure also includes a rectangular frame I68 which constitutes themouth portion ofthe folding box 26.

Each of the belts 9 runs upon an end pulley I69 at the introductory endof the conveyor 6 and an end driving pulley I10 at the delivery end ofthe conveyor, the pulley I10 being fast upon a drive shaft "I. In thelower stretch of the conveyor provision is made of tensioning rollersI12 and I13 for eliminating slack from the belts I0.

Side rails I63 at opposite sides of the machine carry pivoted bearingarms I14 upon which the holddown rollers II are mounted for pressing theside flap portions of the blanks firmly but with yielding pressureagainst the conveyor belts I0. The conveyor belts I0, in cooperationwith the rollers ,I I, serve to advance each blank continuously past thegumming mechanism I2 and substantially up to the folding position. Theside flaps 1, however, clear the final rollers II shortly before theblank arrives in folding position.

For the purpose of advancing a blank against the pins 21 with light,yielding force, each side bar I63 is formed with an ear I having acylindrical bore I16 formed in it, Each bore I16 receives one of theballs 29. A cross pin or bolt I11 transfixes the ear I15 above the ball,and serves as a means for precluding any possibility of the ballsbecoming accidentally dislodged from the ear.

The rectangular frame I68 is formed with extensions I 18, each formedwith an upstanding boss I19. A slotted arm I80 is adjustably mountedupon each boss, being held to the boss in adjusted position by means ofa headed bolt I8I whose shank passes through the slot I82 of the arm.Each arm I80 carries at its free end one of the pins 21, the pin beingdesirably formed integral with the arm I80 and being located at theextreme tip portion thereof. By virtue of the bolt and slot arrangement,each arm is adapted for radial and pivotal adjustment.

The plunger mechanism comprises a frame member I83 having upper andlower'guide ears W8 and I85 in which a plunger stem I86 is mounted forvertical reciprocation. A collar I81 fast on the plunger stem I86 isconnected through a link I08 with an operating arm I89 fast on a rockshaft I90. The plunger carries at its lower end a forming plate I 9|which substantially conforms in contour and dimensions with the foldingbox 26. The shaft I90 is operated in properly time relation with thearrival of the blanks in folding position.

The gumming mechanism is best illustrated in Figures 1. 4 and 8 to 10,inclusive. The shaft I6, upon which the gumming segments I4 and I5 aresecured by means of set screws I92 and I93, respectively, is rotatablymounted in frame members I94 and I95, see Figure 4.

The shaft I6 has fast upon it a cam I96 for causing the gum transferrollers 20 and 22 to be oscillated in properly timed relation with thero-' tation of the gumming segments to cause the roller 2| to engage thesegment I5, but to escape engagement with the segment I4, and to causethe roller 20 to engage the segment I4, but to escape engagement withthe segment I5.

The cam I96 engages a cam follower roller I91 which is carried by a bellcrank lever I98 oscillatably mounted upon a. shaft I99. The shaft I99 issupported in the frame member I94. A tension spring 200 is connected atone end to a pin 20I carried by the bell crank lever I98, and at theother end to a flxedframe member for maintaining the follower roller I91in engagement with the cam I96. The bell crank lever I98 includes anupstanding arm 202 which is formed at its upper end with a single tooth203 for engaging between two teeth of a two-toothed gear segment 204,which is fast upon a rock shaft 205. The shaft 205 extends completelyacross the machine and is supported in the frame members I94 and I95.The shaft 205 has fast upon it four single-toothed crank members 206,201, 208 and 209 which, although made as separate elements forconvenience of manufacture, operate as one.

A stub shaft 2 I0 is mounted in the frame member I in axial alignmentwith the shaft I99 and cooperates with the shaft I99 in supporting bellcrank levers whereby the transfer rollers 20 and 2I are carried. Theroller 20 is fast upon a shaft 2| I, carried by a pair of bell cranklevers 2I2, 2I3, which are rockably mounted, respectively, upon theshafts I99 and 2I0. The arms which support the shaft 2| I extendleftward from the common axis of shafts I99 and 2") and these leversare, therefore, referred to in the claims as left-hand bell cranks. Thebell cranks 2I2 and 2I3 include upstanding arms 2I4 and 2I5, Figure 4,respectively, each formed with a single tooth at its upper end. Thecranks 206 and 209 are each formed with a single tooth at the lower end,and the teeth of bell cranks 2I2 and 2I3 lie behind the teeth of thecranks 206 and 209, as viewed in Figure 4.

Similarly, the roller 2| is fast upon a shaft 2I6 which is carried byrightwardly extending arms of bell cranks 2H and 2I8, which are rockablymounted, respectively, upon the shafts I99 and 2I0. The bell cranks 2I1and 2I8 include, respectfvely, upstanding arms 2I9 and 220, each ofwhich is formed with a single tooth at its upper end. The teeth of arms2I9 and 220 lie to the left of the teeth of cranks 206 and 209 as viewedin Figure 8. The single teeth of all of the members 206, 201, 208 and209 are constantly in coincdence with one another as viewed in FigureB.

When the shaft 205 is rocked clockwise, the bell cranks 2I1 and 2I8 arerocked counterclockwise to lift the roller 2I clear of the commoncircular path traveled by the peripheries of the segments I4 and I5.When the shaft 205 is rocked counter-clockwise, the bell cranks 2I2 and2I3 are rocked clockwise to lift the roller 20 clear of the commoncircular path of the peripheries of the segments I4 and I5. Bars HI and222 are mounted on the frame member I94 to extend at opposite sides ofthe upstanding arms of the bell cranks 2I2 and 2H. A similar pair ofarms 223 is mounted upon the frame member I95 to extend at oppositesides of the upstanding arms of the bell cranks 2 I3 and 2I8. Since thissecond pair of arms is a duplicate in construction and operation of thearms 22I and 222, a description of the arms 22I and 222 and the elementscarried by them will suflice to cover both sets of arms.

The arm 222 carries an adjustable screw 224,

Figures 8 and 10, against which the upstanding arm 2I9 of hell cranklever 2I1 bears when the lever is not rocked counter-clockwise by theaction of the shaft 205. The screw 224 constitutes a means formicrometrically adjusting the normal or free position of the roller 2 IThe bar 22I is formed with a socket 225 in which a compression coilspring 228 is housed. The spring 226 bears against the upstanding arm2I9 of the bell crank 2H, and urges the arm 2I9 into engagement with theadjustable screw 224. The set screw 224 is desirably adjusted to causethe roller 2I when free to extend very slightly across the circular pathtraversed by the peripheries of the segments I4 and I5. Thus, when thesegment I5 comes into engagement with'the roller 2 I, it cams the rolleroutward very slightly against the compression of the spring 228 so thatthe roller, while running in engagement with the face of the segment I5,bears with light spring pressure against the segment.

Similarly, the bar 22I is provided with an ad'- iustable screw 221,Figures 4, 8 and 9, for determining a similar normal or free position ofthe roller 20. The bar 222 is formed with'a bore 228 in which is seateda compression coil spring 229 for bearing against the upstanding arm 2I4 of the bell crank lever 2I2 to urge the arm 2I4 against theadjustable screw 221. The normal setting of the roller 20 is similar tothat described for the roller 22.

The cam I86, as will be evident, causes the bell crank lever I98 to berocked clockwise as the cam forces the follower roller I91 away from theaxis of the shaft I5, and the spring 200 causes the bell crank lever I98to be rocked counter-clockwise as the cam permits the roller I91 toapproach the axis of the shaft I8. Clockwise movement of the bell crankI98 produces counterclockwise movement of the shaft 205, andcounter-clockwise movement of the bell crank I98 produces clockwisemovement of the shaft 205. As has already been made clear, clockwisemovement of the shaft 205 raises the roller 2| clear of the segmentpath, while counter-clockwise movement of the shaft 205 raises theroller 20 clear of the segment path.

The cam I95 may be compared for descriptive purposes with a circulardisc of a radius adapted to maintain the shaft 205 always in theposition illustrated in Fig. 8, that is, in a position such that neitherthe roller 20 nor the roller 2| is rocked away from the path traversedby the segments I4 and I5. The radius of such a disc will be referred toas the normal radius of the cam.

In Fig. 8 the follower roller I91 is shown as bearing upon a cam portionof normal radius.

The segment I5 is just coming into engagement with the roller 2I in theFig. 8 position. As the segment I 5 traverses the roller 2I there is noportion of the cam of less than normal radius which will engage thefollower roller .191. Hence; the roller 2| will not be affected by thecamwhile the segment I5 travels past the roller 2I. Asthe se ment l5nears the roller 20, however. a high concentric cam portion 230 comesunder the roller I91, see Figure 9, rocks the bell crank lever I98 in aclockwise direction, and carries the roller 20 outward clear of thesegment path so that the segment I5 escapes engagement w th the roller20.

After the segment I5 has passed the roller 20 and before the segment I4has come opposite the *tained' until the segment roller 2|, a camportion 28I of less than normal diameter comes into engagement with thefollower roller I91 and causes the bell crank I98 to be rockedcounter-clockwise to a position like that shown in Fig. 10. Thisposition is main- I4 has passed clear of the roller 2|. After thesegment I4 has cleared the roller 2i, and as the segment I5 approachesthe roller 2|, a cam portion 232 of normal diameter comes under thefollower roller I91 to locate the parts in the positions illustrated inFig. 8. This condition of the bell crank I98, as already pointed out, ismaintained until the cam segment I5 has traveled across the roller 2|.

The rollers 20 and 22, Figure 1, both turn in a clockwise direction. A-gum supply roller 250 runs in a gum pot 25I for supplying gum to thetransfer roller 20. The roller 250 also turns in a clockwise direction.The transfer roller 22 runs in engagement with a gum supply roller 252which is mounted in a gum pot 253. The roller 252 runs in acounter-clockwise direction.

Suitable gearing, not shown, is provided for driving the rollers 250 and20, and for driving the rollers 22 and 252 in the manner described.Since this gearing is substantially the same as for the correspondingrollers in Patent #2,111,31'7 it is not shown and will not be describedherein, but reference may be had tothe patent referred to for details ofthe rollerdrive.

A spreader roller 254 runs upon the periphery of the supply roller 252to insure uniform application of the gum to the seal flap of theenvelope blank. The roller 254 is carried by levers 255 which arefulcrumed upon standards 255. An adjustable bolt 251 is passed throughthe 138111301- tion of one of the levers 255 and threaded into astationary lug 258 on the standard 258. A compression coil spring 259 isinterposed between the lug 258 and the the shank of the bolt 251.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention inwhich the hold-down balls 29 are replaced by jogger mechanism operatedin timed relation with the blanks to position the blanks in properfolding position.

The mechanism of Figures 13 and 14 is for the most part identical withthat of Figures 1 to 12, inclusive, and accordingly correspondingreference numerals have been applied ing parts with the subscript 11added in each instance. Only those parts which are directly concerned inthe modification will be referred to in the ensuing description. n

The final rollers Ila of Figure 13 stand a little farther away from thefolding box then the final rollers II of Figure 1. A transverse shaft Iis supported in bearing members 302 a-ffixed to the side bars I-53a.Jogging fingers 803 are mounted upon the shaft 80I and are adapted to besecured in position to engage blank formed at the junctions of thesealing flap with the side flaps. A crank 304 fast on the shaft SM isconnected through a link 805 to suitable cam mechanismfnot shown) whichactsin timed relation with the arrival of to and fro and thereby .causethe jogging fingers 308 to be oscillated. As the trailing edge of ablank moves free of the rollers Ila, the jogging fingers are swung tailof the lever 255 and surrounds to correspondin the angles of an envelopethe blanks at the folding station to rock the shaft 80I dot and dashline positions so as to stand clear of the next oncoming blank.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of myinvention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodimentsshown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An envelope making machine comprising, in combination, means forsupporting a stack of blanks in an inclined attitude, means for singlywithdrawing envelope blanks laterally from the lower end of the stack,means for feeding the blanks downward a substantial distance below thestack, said feeding means being of an open construction, so that anoperator can see through it, conveyor means for thereafter conveying theblanks in a substantially horizontal path in which the blanks can beseen from a point of observation below the stack by looking through thefeeding means which feeds the blanks downward below the stack, saidmeans for supporting said stack of blank being located above said hori-vzontal path, said conveyor means being confined substantially tolongitudinal zones alongside the path traversed by the body portions ofthe envelope blanks, and engaging the blanks outside the lateralboundsoi the body portions thereof, an envelope formin plunger mechanismat the end of said path, bottom flap summing means for acting on theblanks as they travel along said path, and seal flap gumming means foracting on the blanks as they travel along said path, said bottom flapand seal flap gumming means being mounted with a common axis of rotationto minimize length requirements of such path, and said path beingaccessible through means, and short enough so that all portions of saidpath are within arm's reach of an operator of usual size when seated atthe introductory the conveyor end of the machine with his head beneaththe stack.

2. An envelope making machine comprising, in combination, means forsupporting a stack of blanks in an inclined attitude, means for singlywithdrawing envelope blank laterally from the lower end of the stack,means for feeding the blanks downward a substantial distance below thestack, said feeding means being of an open construction so that anoperator can see through it, conveyor means for thereafter conveying theblanks in a substantially horizontal path in which the blanks can beseen from a point of observation below the stack by looking through thefeeding means which feeds the blanks downward below the stack, saidmeans for supporting said stack of blanks being located above saidhorizontal Path, said conveyor means being confined substantially tolongitudinal zones alongside the path traversed by the body portions ofthe envelope blanks and engaging the blanks outside the lateral boundsof the body portions thereof, an envelope forming plunger mechanism atthe end of said path, bottom flap summing means for acting on the blanksas they travel along said path, and seal flap gumming means for actingon the blanks as they travel along said path, said bottom flap and sealflap gumming means being mounted with a common axis of rotation tominimize length requirements of such path, said plunger mechanismincluding a delivery trap which opens toward the introductory end of themachine, said trap being visible between the conveyor stretches to anoperator of usual height when seated at the introductory end of themachine with his head beneath the stack. and said path and said trapbeing accessible to. and within arm's reach 01, an operator ,so situatedat the introductory end of the machine.

ABRAHAM NOVICK.

